Monday, March 05, 2007

State and local law enforcement busted an illegal gaming operation at a
Baltimore City bowling alley Thursday. Agents with the Maryland
Comptroller's
Office and officers with the Baltimore City Police Department seized more
than $3,000 in cash and more than 900 containers of beer along with two half
kegs, and two quarter kegs of beer from Charm City Duckpin Lanes at 3540 S.
Hanover St. Baltimore police forcibly opened the video gaming machines and
seized $2,754 in cash. An additional $676 was seized from other areas of the
business, state officials said. Authorities also confiscated pay out slips,
indicating cash payments had been made to players, along with the machine's
internal circuitry and power units. Charm City's manager, Glen Curtis
Hendricks Jr., 49, manager of the bowling alley, faces two counts of selling
sale of alcoholic beverages without a license, three counts of illegally
possessing alcoholic beverages for purpose of sale, unlawfully doing
business without a trader's license and unlawfully doing business without a
restaurant license. All charges are misdemeanors. Baltimore City is expected
to file separate video gaming charges. "The Comptroller's Office is serious
about going after illegal sales and gaming in Maryland. Working with our
partners in Baltimore City, we are sending a message that unlawful activity
will not be tolerated," said Comptroller Peter Franchot said in a statement.
Officers said the unlawful alcoholic beverages were brought in by those
visiting the business, which had failed to register with the Baltimore City
Liquor Board as a "Bottle Club" and was operating illegally. Hendricks is
the 38th person arrested for alcohol violations this fiscal year. So far,
the total alcoholic beverages confiscated have a value of approximately
$156,426, Franchot's office said.